The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-01-26
Two Girls.

"Well, has your wife burned the
gravy, given you sour bread, tough pie
crust or doughty cake yet?''
"Not bit of it! All is lovely so
far
g I'm glad of It'll You are to be con-
graduated said Aunt Sally, as she
turned to her niece, who sat reading the
last novel. CHOW, Annie, that's the
sort of wife for man to be proud Of"
This young lady was one of the kind
who put on airs, and, with toss of her
head and shade of irritation in her
voice, she answered, laconically, 81 sup
pose So" Aunt Sally gave her orders
to the young man, who was the grocer's
clerk at the corner store, quite sure that
they would be filed satisfactorily and
returned in good time.
As may be inferred, Alfred Hine had
just married wife, and was, as should
always be the case, one of the happiest
of men. Aunt Sally commended him
for setting up home of his own before
the honeymoon was over, and predicted
for him useful and prosperous career.
ga young man." she said, " of perfect
health, pure habits, good principles
and practical ideas" She had taken
note of him since first entering the
store where she traded. His open coun-
tenance and obliging ways had first won
her good opinion, and the fact that he
came from the country (she was coun-
try-born) added to her interest in him.
He had just married girl whose pa
rents had brought her up TO habits of
industry and economy, and yet had
never deprived her of any really whole
cOna rpprpatioD mr. nj aos,1ra
When a schoolgirl she was obliged
to learn her lessons perfectly before in
dulging in amusements. When old
enough, she was taught the use of her
needle, and expected, in addition to
assist in the family sewing, especially
the mending. No torn or frayed gar
ment was permitted to be worn, but as
soon as discovered must be taken in
hand and repaired at the earliest oppor-
tunity, and then worn as long as it was
properly presentable. She was never
obliged to be mortified, however, by
wearing ill-fitting, badly-made clothing:
but as her mother possessed correct
taste as well as good judgment, her
daughter always looked neatly and APP
propriately dressed.
Esther Mason was indeed fortunate
in her birth and surroundings. Mrs.
Mason was one of those women who
are "crown of joy to their hus-
band "a perfect New England house
wife. Unlike many of this class, she
never COMPOUNDED the relation of things.
She was clear-headed respecting the es-
sentials and non-essentials of domestic
life and home influences. She never
placed the trivial above the really i'm
portant; and while one of the most
thorough and systematic of housekeep-
ers, she would never allow the details
of work to harass herself or make her
family uncomfortable. She believed
in cultivating the joyous side of life,
and consequently her home was a
favorite place for visiting among the
girls of Esther's age. Possibly this was
owing to the predominance of the
female element in the house, Mr.
Mason being blessed with three young
girls and only one boy. Be that as il
may, it was happy household, cheer.
full, busy, thrifty family
The father was Woodworking me.
chanic, but fortunately able to be al
home evenings. Taking his lunch
with him in the morning, he did not
return again until work was over al
night. Then first to the wash-roon
up-stairs-sunnyi in summer and warmed
by drum from the kitchen stove il
winter. Ten or fifteen minutes later
clean and in his second-best suit, he
came down smiling TO greet his famil,
and enjoy the savory dinner Away
ready in time and never known to bc
badly cooked. This cleanliness ant
change of garments his wife had in
sisted on from the first. "The grim,
of the workshop should not be brough
into the house." Mr.. Mason uset
laughingly to say that his wife 60
him under the reign of feminine gov
eminent at the start. That was tru,
in this particular, but on her part sh
always had the drudgery of kitchen
work cleared away and received he
husband on his return with smiling
face, hair neatly arranged, and wear
ing some pretty dress-not expensive
but tastefully made-never withou
either collar or frill at the throat, ant
fastened with knot of her husband
favorite colored ribbon or the littl
gold brooch priced as his gift. No un
necessary homework was done at night
4iio' A1aooh a Nhltil, al
though at first it might seem incongru
GUS with the general system of perfec
housekeeping, was yet fully justified il
its practical benefit. There was no ex
pensive china in the house, but, will
her usual good judgment, Mrs. Masol
had insisted on large supply of soli
white stone-ware that could easily b
matched when any of it was broken
After dinner the cutlery, glasses AM
silver were carefully rinsed, and tn
remainder of the dishes put in larg
pan kept for that purpose; water wa
poured over them, and, together wit
the pots and stew-pans, they wer
placed in the kitchen sink, which wa
enclosed with doors, and there left t
become part of the next forenoon
work. In this way long, pleasan
evening was secured to the family an
fully enioyed by them all Esther wa